Intermittant Starting Prob.

Hey Guys,

New member, but have been floating around the board for ages.... it's amazing the amount of info on here!

Anyway, I have a problem that hopefully your wealth of knowledge can assist with. 2004 Defender 110 TD5 with 135,000kms.

About 4 months ago, I starting having intermittant starting troubles. I can go 5 times and not have a problem, then the next 5 times it will have trouble. But the vehicle has never failed to start, but at times it will take 3, maybe 4 goes. It really has trouble turning over. It does not have the start motor click though, the engine is trying to turn over (seems to happen more often when hot than cold, but has happened both times). Battery is good quality and quite new. We have a dual battery system but the winch battery is flat at the moment. I have undertaken a full service, air filter, fuel filter (bled properly), centrifuge rotor, oil filter, engine oil, etc. I noticed a VERY small amount of oil in red ECU plug. So I cleaned and replaced the injector harness. Pushed home all the fuses just to make sure. 4 days ago the drive belt snapped, as the idler pulley seized and put too much pressure on it. Easily fixed and it's back on road. But starting problem persists. I have the starter motor repair kit, but really found it difficult to get off to do the repair.

So, I though I would ask and see if you guys had any more advice to share on the issue. It's really beginning to annoy my wife and I. I also want to avoid taking it to the shop and them telling me that I need certain things done, which I then pay for and find the problem isn't fixed!

Please help

sasreg said:

Hey Guys,

New member, but have been floating around the board for ages.... it's amazing the amount of info on here!

Anyway, I have a problem that hopefully your wealth of knowledge can assist with. 2004 Defender 110 TD5 with 135,000kms.

About 4 months ago, I starting having intermittant starting troubles. I can go 5 times and not have a problem, then the next 5 times it will have trouble. But the vehicle has never failed to start, but at times it will take 3, maybe 4 goes. It really has trouble turning over. It does not have the start motor click though, the engine is trying to turn over (seems to happen more often when hot than cold, but has happened both times). Battery is good quality and quite new. We have a dual battery system but the winch battery is flat at the moment. I have undertaken a full service, air filter, fuel filter (bled properly), centrifuge rotor, oil filter, engine oil, etc. I noticed a VERY small amount of oil in red ECU plug. So I cleaned and replaced the injector harness. Pushed home all the fuses just to make sure. 4 days ago the drive belt snapped, as the idler pulley seized and put too much pressure on it. Easily fixed and it's back on road. But starting problem persists. I have the starter motor repair kit, but really found it difficult to get off to do the repair.

So, I though I would ask and see if you guys had any more advice to share on the issue. It's really beginning to annoy my wife and I. I also want to avoid taking it to the shop and them telling me that I need certain things done, which I then pay for and find the problem isn't fixed!

Please help

Click to expand...

Are you saying that when you have the problem you turn the key and all the dash lights come on but the starter motor will not turn and there is no noise of any type?

Or are you saying that the engine will crank over and over?

If it's the first one, next time it happens try giving the small thin wire that goes to the starter motor a wiggle. If that doesn't cure it then check that the small wire is turning live when the key is turned to the crank position.

Ratty,

Thanks for the response mate... Sorry I typed a bit and probably didn't make it too clear.

Dash lights no problems at all - vehicle will just crank over and over.

Cheers,